US6983648B2 - Component management system - Google Patents

Component management system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US6983648B2
US6983648B2 US10/297,255 US29725502A US6983648B2 US 6983648 B2 US6983648 B2 US 6983648B2 US 29725502 A US29725502 A US 29725502A US 6983648 B2 US6983648 B2 US 6983648B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
components
wear rate
spares
brake
aircraft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related, expires
Application number
US10/297,255
Other versions
US20030159493A1 (en
Inventor
Michael S Grout
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems PLC
Original Assignee
BAE Systems PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BAE Systems PLC filed Critical BAE Systems PLC
Assigned to BAE SYSTEMS PLC reassignment BAE SYSTEMS PLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GROUT, MICHAEL
Publication of US20030159493A1 publication Critical patent/US20030159493A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6983648B2 publication Critical patent/US6983648B2/en
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/06Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a component management system and particularly to such a system for managing components subject to wear e.g. components in or related to a braking system such as an aircraft braking system.
  • a system for management of components subject to wear including measuring wear rate of another component whose wear rate is related to the wear rate of the said component and using the measured wear rate to determine the predicted life of the said component.
  • the said component may comprise an aircraft tyre and the other said component may comprise a brake operable to brake a wheel upon which the tyre is mounted.
  • the invention can thus provide a system, which is beneficially in the form of a computer database, allowing operators of aircraft or any other equipment where components are subject to wear to manage all the maintenance, analysis and provisioning aspects of such components, such as brake and wheel components, with the unique feature of being able to predict component, e.g. tyre life to a high degree of accuracy based on the measured wear rate of the component or a related component such as each tyre's related brake unit. From the predicted life of the component, spares requirements for that component may be determined, e.g. by determining the number of spares required and/or the location at which they will be required to be kept.
  • Inspection of the said component for a final determination as to whether replacement is required may thus be limited to a much narrower time band and the determination of when to change the component is therefore made a much easier and more certain step.
  • A Fleet average brake wear rate (inches/landing)
  • B Brake wear rate for subject wheel (inches/landing)
  • C Fleet average tyre life (landings)
  • D Minimum tyre life (landings)
  • the system of the invention may have the following features:
  • a tyre may last about 400 landings, or about 2 months on average, for normal schedules. We have seen from the programme one tyre wearing at twice the normal rate but were able to correct the aircraft fault before the tyre was ruined and were able to get two thirds or more of the life out of the tyre.
  • a brake set may last on average one year, and with 4 per aircraft for a 10 aircraft fleet, that is 40 brake sets per year or £480,000 per year.
  • a method of determining wear imbalance in components by comparing predicted lives for at least two said components operating on a single piece of equipment. For example a malfunctioning component in a brake or anti-skid system may be identifed, according to the invention. Established wear patterns may be used to help make this determination.
  • Data input into a software programme according to the invention to predict wear life of aircraft tyres may include brake wear pin fitting date; date of commencement of monitoring of the components; number of aircraft landings at the commencement date of monitoring; the date when the brake or wheel was last changed; brake wear indicator pin dimensions.
  • the system of the invention can learn from updated tyre wear rates in making its component wear predictions.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Operations Research (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Educational Administration (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Valves And Accessory Devices For Braking Systems (AREA)
  • Regulating Braking Force (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)
  • Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Abstract

A system in the form of a database allowing operators of aircraft or any other equipment where components are subject to wear to manage all the maintenance, analysis and provisioning aspects of such components e.g. brake and wheel components. The system is able to predict component, e.g. tyre, life to a high degree of accuracy based on the measured wear rate of the component or a related component such as each tyre's related brake unit.

Description

This application is the US national phase of international application PCT/GB01/02461, filed in English on 5 Jun. 2001, which designated the US. PCT/GB01/02461 claims priority to GB Application No. 0013936.0 filed 8 Jun. 2000. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to a component management system and particularly to such a system for managing components subject to wear e.g. components in or related to a braking system such as an aircraft braking system.
Airline operators, in the management of spare parts, traditionally have to use very general and usually somewhat inaccurate information upon which to calculate spares requirements for the replacement of components. Such systems can lead to either too many or too few of a particular component being held, can lead to components being held in the wrong place at the wrong time and can generally cost the airline operator a lot of unnecessary money.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system for management of components subject to wear which will overcome the difficulties of the prior art
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for management of components subject to wear including measuring wear rate of another component whose wear rate is related to the wear rate of the said component and using the measured wear rate to determine the predicted life of the said component. The said component may comprise an aircraft tyre and the other said component may comprise a brake operable to brake a wheel upon which the tyre is mounted.
The invention can thus provide a system, which is beneficially in the form of a computer database, allowing operators of aircraft or any other equipment where components are subject to wear to manage all the maintenance, analysis and provisioning aspects of such components, such as brake and wheel components, with the unique feature of being able to predict component, e.g. tyre life to a high degree of accuracy based on the measured wear rate of the component or a related component such as each tyre's related brake unit. From the predicted life of the component, spares requirements for that component may be determined, e.g. by determining the number of spares required and/or the location at which they will be required to be kept.
Inspection of the said component for a final determination as to whether replacement is required may thus be limited to a much narrower time band and the determination of when to change the component is therefore made a much easier and more certain step.
A formula, according to the invention, which has been used to predict expected tyre life for a given tyre is as follows:
Predicted Tyre Life=((A/B)×(C−D))+D
Where
A = Fleet average brake wear rate (inches/landing)
B = Brake wear rate for subject wheel (inches/landing)
C = Fleet average tyre life (landings)
D = Minimum tyre life (landings)
The system of the invention may have the following features:
  • Input of Brake Wear Indicator pin dimensions;
  • Historical record of maintenance performed on wheels and brakes;
  • Current status of each wheel and each brake unit fitted to each aircraft;
  • Automatic forecasting of wheel and brake unit changes;
  • Wear rate calculations for components, e.g. wheels and brake units, revealing any wear imbalances (for example for wheels on the same axle),
  • Predicted lives of components, e.g. installed wheels or brake units;
  • Reporting of reliability and maintainability statistics;
  • Automatic forecasting of component, e.g. wheel and brake unit spares requirements.
Some examples of aircraft component costs are set out below:
Brake spacer £800
Tyre (remould) £400
Brake set £12,000
A tyre may last about 400 landings, or about 2 months on average, for normal schedules. We have seen from the programme one tyre wearing at twice the normal rate but were able to correct the aircraft fault before the tyre was ruined and were able to get two thirds or more of the life out of the tyre.
Hence for a 10 aircraft fleet, times 6 tyres, times 6 for a years use, gives 360 tyres or £144,000 per year spent on tyres.
A brake set may last on average one year, and with 4 per aircraft for a 10 aircraft fleet, that is 40 brake sets per year or £480,000 per year.
Thus it can be seen that even a five per cent annual saving on these costs will amount to over £25,000.
According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of determining wear imbalance in components by comparing predicted lives for at least two said components operating on a single piece of equipment. For example a malfunctioning component in a brake or anti-skid system may be identifed, according to the invention. Established wear patterns may be used to help make this determination.
Data input into a software programme according to the invention to predict wear life of aircraft tyres may include brake wear pin fitting date; date of commencement of monitoring of the components; number of aircraft landings at the commencement date of monitoring; the date when the brake or wheel was last changed; brake wear indicator pin dimensions.
Other factors which may be introduced into the system of the invention, when related to brakes and tyres, include brake hydraulic pressures; anti-skid control systems features; runway types; weather: temperatures etc.
The system of the invention can learn from updated tyre wear rates in making its component wear predictions.

Claims (15)

1. A method of managing spares for a fleet having first components, where each of the first components have a wear rate, said method including the steps of:
measuring a wear rate of second components, where the wear rate of said second components is related to the wear rate of the first components;
using the measured wear rate of the second components to determine the predicted life of the first components; and
determining the number of spares of the first components based upon the predicted life of the first components.
2. The method according to claim 1 in which the first components comprises aircraft tyres and the second components comprises aircraft brakes operable to brake wheels upon which the tyres are mounted.
3. The method according to claim 2 in which the step of measuring the wear rate of the second components includes taking periodic measurements of the length of a wear pin for the brakes.
4. The method according to claim 1, when applied to managing fleet spares at more than one location, including the step of determining the number of spares to be provided at each location, based upon the locations of equipment utilising the first components.
5. The method according to claim 1, including the step of comparing predicted lives of components to determine any wear rate imbalance therebetween.
6. The method according to claim 5, when applied to an aircraft braking system, in which a wear rate imbalance detected between components is used to identify one of a malfunctioning brake and a wheel anti-skid unit.
7. The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing a historical record of maintenance carried out on components.
8. The method according to claim 2, using data selected from:
brake wear pin fitting date;
date of commencement of component monitoring;
number of aircraft landings at the date of commencement of component monitoring;
date when brake or wheel last changed;
runway type;
weather conditions.
9. The method according to claim 2, in which the predicted life of the tyre (PTL) is determined according to the relationship:

PTL=((A/B)×(C−D))+D
where
A =Fleet average brake wear rate, measured in inches/landing;
B =Brake wear rate for subject wheel, measured in inches/landing;
C =Fleet average tyre life, measured in numbers of landings;
D =Minimum tyre life, measured in numbers of landings.
10. The method according to claim 1 including the step of storing the results of said measuring step in a computer database.
11. A method of managing spares for a fleet of first components, where each of the first components has a wear rate, said fleet including second components where each of the second components has a wear rate which is related to the wear rate of the first components, said method including the steps of:
measuring the wear rate of second components;
predicting the predicted life of the first components using the measured wear rate of the second components; and
determining a required number of spares of said first components based upon the predicted life of said first components.
12. A method of managing spares according to claim 11, wherein said first components comprise tires and said second components comprise brakes.
13. A method of managing spares according to claim 12, wherein said tires and said brakes are aircraft tires and aircraft brakes.
14. A method of managing spares according to claim 13, wherein said measuring step comprises the measuring of a wear pin associated with each of said aircraft brakes.
15. A method of managing spares according to claim 11, wherein said method further includes the step of comparing the predicted life of each of said first components and indicating any imbalance of wear rate among said first components.
US10/297,255 2000-06-08 2001-06-05 Component management system Expired - Fee Related US6983648B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0013936.0 2000-06-08
GBGB0013936.0A GB0013936D0 (en) 2000-06-08 2000-06-08 Component management system
PCT/GB2001/002461 WO2001095174A2 (en) 2000-06-08 2001-06-05 Component management system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030159493A1 US20030159493A1 (en) 2003-08-28
US6983648B2 true US6983648B2 (en) 2006-01-10

Family

ID=9893211

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/297,255 Expired - Fee Related US6983648B2 (en) 2000-06-08 2001-06-05 Component management system

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US6983648B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1402431A2 (en)
AU (1) AU2001274210A1 (en)
GB (1) GB0013936D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2001095174A2 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090095576A1 (en) * 2000-08-04 2009-04-16 Richard John Miller Brake condition monitoring
US20130191331A1 (en) * 2010-08-02 2013-07-25 Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A. Method of updating a database for managing a vehicle fleet
US9786042B2 (en) 2015-01-29 2017-10-10 Honeywell International Inc. Algorithm for measuring wear pin length using an input image
US11886181B2 (en) 2019-09-23 2024-01-30 Airbus Operations Limited Predicting the life of consumable components

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3022065B1 (en) * 2014-06-04 2017-10-13 European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co Eads France METHOD FOR GENERATING AN ENRICHED DIGITAL MODEL
US10706361B1 (en) 2015-12-11 2020-07-07 The Boeing Company Hybrid feature selection for performance prediction of fluid control valves
US10239640B2 (en) 2015-12-11 2019-03-26 The Boeing Company Predictive aircraft maintenance systems and methods incorporating classifier ensembles
US10474789B2 (en) 2016-06-24 2019-11-12 The Boeing Company Prediction methods and systems for structural repair during heavy maintenance of aircraft
US10472096B2 (en) 2017-05-30 2019-11-12 The Boeing Company Advanced analytic methods and systems utilizing trust-weighted machine learning models
JP6896596B2 (en) 2017-12-14 2021-06-30 株式会社ブリヂストン Tire groove remaining amount management system

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2981929A (en) * 1958-02-17 1961-04-25 Rizzo Samuel Electrical brake lining wear detector
US3898459A (en) 1973-11-19 1975-08-05 Gen Motors Corp Radiometric method of measuring wear of an engine component
US5060156A (en) 1989-07-20 1991-10-22 Ford Motor Company Method and apparatus for determining engine oil change intervals according to actual engine use
US5557552A (en) 1993-03-24 1996-09-17 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. System for projecting vehicle speed and tire condition monitoring system using same
GB2317035A (en) 1996-08-09 1998-03-11 Caterpillar Inc Determining wear of internal combustion engines
US5838251A (en) * 1995-08-31 1998-11-17 Mercedes-Benz Ag Method and device for programming operating data into vehicle components
US6023967A (en) 1996-10-14 2000-02-15 Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. Method for measuring tire wear using intensity of reflected light
US6067159A (en) * 1997-10-28 2000-05-23 Reliance Electric Industrial Company System for determining condition of an article

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2981929A (en) * 1958-02-17 1961-04-25 Rizzo Samuel Electrical brake lining wear detector
US3898459A (en) 1973-11-19 1975-08-05 Gen Motors Corp Radiometric method of measuring wear of an engine component
US5060156A (en) 1989-07-20 1991-10-22 Ford Motor Company Method and apparatus for determining engine oil change intervals according to actual engine use
US5557552A (en) 1993-03-24 1996-09-17 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. System for projecting vehicle speed and tire condition monitoring system using same
US5838251A (en) * 1995-08-31 1998-11-17 Mercedes-Benz Ag Method and device for programming operating data into vehicle components
GB2317035A (en) 1996-08-09 1998-03-11 Caterpillar Inc Determining wear of internal combustion engines
US6023967A (en) 1996-10-14 2000-02-15 Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. Method for measuring tire wear using intensity of reflected light
US6067159A (en) * 1997-10-28 2000-05-23 Reliance Electric Industrial Company System for determining condition of an article

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Federal Aviation Administration: Internet Article Mar. 1998 "Flight Test Guide for Certification of Transport Category Airplanes".
National Transportation Safety Board: Internet Article Jun. 1999 Aircraft Accident Report-Runaway Overrun During Landing American Airlines Flight 1420, Jan. 1999.

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090095576A1 (en) * 2000-08-04 2009-04-16 Richard John Miller Brake condition monitoring
US7901014B2 (en) * 2000-08-04 2011-03-08 Meggitt Aerospace Limited Brake condition monitoring
US20110144879A1 (en) * 2000-08-04 2011-06-16 Richard John Miller Brake condition monitoring
US8152246B2 (en) * 2000-08-04 2012-04-10 Meggitt Aerospace Limited Brake condition monitoring
US20130191331A1 (en) * 2010-08-02 2013-07-25 Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A. Method of updating a database for managing a vehicle fleet
US9715511B2 (en) * 2010-08-02 2017-07-25 Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Method of updating a database for managing a vehicle fleet
US9786042B2 (en) 2015-01-29 2017-10-10 Honeywell International Inc. Algorithm for measuring wear pin length using an input image
US11886181B2 (en) 2019-09-23 2024-01-30 Airbus Operations Limited Predicting the life of consumable components

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1402431A2 (en) 2004-03-31
WO2001095174A3 (en) 2004-01-08
US20030159493A1 (en) 2003-08-28
WO2001095174A2 (en) 2001-12-13
AU2001274210A1 (en) 2001-12-17
GB0013936D0 (en) 2000-08-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10800392B2 (en) Brake health indicator systems using input and output energy
US6983648B2 (en) Component management system
US8262019B2 (en) Method and system for health monitoring of aircraft landing gear
EP3359433B1 (en) Aircraft brake condition diagnosis and prognosis
MX2008011912A (en) Rail wheel servicing management.
JP2010526352A (en) Performance fault management system and method using statistical analysis
US8731766B2 (en) Process for updating the scheduling of a service stop for a machine
US11221903B2 (en) Maintenance management system and maintenance management confirmation device used for the same
CN110087913B (en) Method for determining the wear condition of an aircraft tire
US20130138632A1 (en) Aircraft trending systems and methods
CN113781752B (en) Brake pad early warning method and device, electronic equipment and storage medium
CN108343692A (en) A kind of brake wear monitoring system
US20200354086A1 (en) Predictive part maintenance
US20220383673A1 (en) Predictive part maintenance
US20200276965A1 (en) Vehicle Brake Health Monitoring
Meissner et al. Digital transformation in maintenance on the example of a tire pressure indicating system
US11574508B2 (en) Predictive, preventative and conditional maintenance method and system for commercial vehicle fleets
CN107206853A (en) Tire fault position forecasting system and tire fault position Forecasting Methodology
CA2587750C (en) Method and system for health monitoring of aircraft landing gear
CN113326950A (en) Adjusting maintenance intervals for individual platforms based on observable conditions
CN116258381A (en) Quantitative evaluation method and device for operation command work
JP2002032470A (en) Vehicle management system, terminal for management data input and output used for the same system, and recording medium
Lapesa Barrera Reliability Program Process
CN114356727A (en) Method and system for monitoring abnormity of oil depot metering data, storage medium and computer equipment
HOWELL Reliability and maintainability evaluation during flight test

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BAE SYSTEMS PLC, GREAT BRITAIN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GROUT, MICHAEL;REEL/FRAME:014091/0806

Effective date: 20010815

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYER NUMBER DE-ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: RMPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20100110